LA DA George Gascon: Abandoned Victims at Parole Hearings, Leaving Them to Face their Rapist Alone

On July 26, 2008, 23-year-old Jessica M. was waiting at a bus stop when her life was forever changed. At 5:30 a.m., a man held a knife to her throat, kidnapped her, and subjected her to unspeakable horrors—he raped, sodomized, and assaulted her in ways no one should ever endure. Despite her trauma, Jessica found the courage to tell the police her story, allowing evidence to be collected and photographed. Her bravery ensured her attacker was put away, sentenced to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty, a deal she agreed to so she would never have to relive her trauma at a parole hearing.

But that promise of safety was shattered. Due to a change in the law, her attacker, who was just six months past his 25th birthday when he brutalized her, now qualifies as a “youthful offender.” After serving only 15 years, he is up for parole. Twice now Jessica has had to stand before the parole board, facing the man who violated her, without the guidance or protection of a prosecutor. Thanks to George Gascon’s policies, Jessica, like so many other victims, is left alone to navigate the confusing and traumatic parole process.

I know this firsthand because, alongside a small group of former prosecutors, I have volunteered my time to advocate for these courageous survivors at parole hearing over the last four years.

This is Gascon’s trifecta: abandoning victims, obstructing justice, and endangering public safety.

In every other county, prosecutors attend parole hearings with victims, advocating for their safety and helping them understand what’s happening. But in Los Angeles, Gascon has banned prosecutors from attending these hearings. As a result, Jessica faced her rapist twice—completely alone. While her rapist had a state-appointed attorney, fully briefed on his prison conduct, Jessica had no one to explain the details of his behavior or what would be discussed during the hearing. She was left in the dark, without any access to prison records, left to face an uphill battle against a parole system that now feels rigged against her.

The parole board, charged with determining whether an inmate has truly changed, relies heavily on an inmate’s own account of their crime. Yet, under Gascon’s leadership, prosecutors are not even allowed to submit police reports, probation records, or any documents that would expose lies or downplay the inmate’s role in their crime. It’s like asking the fox to guard the henhouse—an utter failure of justice that puts victims at further risk.